The size of right-wing and far-right groups swelled in the last election, destabilizing the centrist majority that usually backs her — her own political family, center-right European People’s Party, plus the Socialists and Democrats and the liberals of Renew. The EPP has repeatedly threatened to team up with the far right, planting distrust and blowing up negotiations.
“This is the most unstable Parliament ever. It is very difficult for the Commission to predict their moves and what to expect from votes, it’s generating a lot of frustrations in the Berlaymont,” an EU official said when the centrists failed to back a deal on green rules for businesses, key to von der Leyen’s agenda. The official was granted anonymity to speak freely, as were others in this piece.
Setting a precedent
By appeasing the Parliament on the budget by suggesting changes that are acceptable for EU countries, von der Leyen has avoided a boxing match between the EU’s co-legislators — for now.
On one side of the ring is the EU Council, representing the countries. It wants to protect its status as EU top dog, and believes that the Parliament should simply rubber-stamp the budget once it has been agreed upon by national capitals (as is envisaged in the EU’s official rules).
On the other side? The most polarized Parliament in history, keen on securing power and pushing for its position to be greater.
“We can do whatever we want, we can use our consent power … we would be dumb not to use it,” said a senior Parliament official after the Commission’s concessions, echoing the views of many of his colleagues. “The Council should not play too much on the institutional role … we have the power so we will use it until the very end to try to get more concessions.”